Hitching-post



PETER F. DALLINGER, 01E MIL'WAUKEE, VJISCONSIN.

HITCI-IING-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 191%.

Application filed. March 18, 1916. Serial No. 85.022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER F. DALLINGER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactd'escription thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hitching posts and is more particularly directed to the provision of an improved attaching device associated therewith.

A common inconvenience in connection with attaching devices carried by-and projecting from hitching posts andv like structures is the liability of such devices being broken or mutilated upon contact of various objects therewith.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an attach ng device adapted for association with hitching posts in such manner that when the device is not in use it is efiiciently housed to protect the device and incidentally to improve the appearance of the post, it being further an object to provide for positioning the device in such manner that it may be readily grasped for operation.

A further object resides in the provls on of a means for housing the attaching device, which in most instances would comprise a snap hook or the like, in such manner as to protect it from the weather and thus prevent rusting of the device.

A still further object resides in the pro vision of an attaching device carried by a flexible member which is yieldably held within the post whereby a yielding yet taut connection is at all times had for the attaching device which prevents a horse from pawing the flexible connection of the device and entangling it under its legs, another function of this yielding arrangement being to procure a housingof the attaching device as heretofore set forth, at all times when it is not in active use.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel comblnat on, arrangement and formation more particularly hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of a hitching post constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 5 designates the head block of the post, which is provided in its bottom with a socket receiving the body portion 6 of the post, this body portion being hollow and preferably comprising a pipe section. The head and body are secured together by one or more bolts 7, threadedly engaged through the head block at its socket and including an inner non-threaded portion 8 engaged through the upper end of the body. The head of the bolt is initially provided with the usual wrench faces to facilitate proper manipulation of the bolt and after the bolt has been secured in place, as shown, the faces are upset to procure a rounded shape of the head whereby unauthorized tampering with a view to detaching the head of the post is prevented. The sides of the post may be formed with a plurality of sockets 9 adapted each to receive a pipe section 10 whereby the hitching post may form one of the posts of a fence although the post may as well stand aloneto perform the single function of a hitching means.

The upper portion of the head 5 is reduced and then enlarged in inverted cup shape, the diameter of this cup shaped portion being greater than the diameter of the lower portion of the head, and thus an annular chamber 11 is provided to house the hitching device, which in this instance comprises a snap hook 12, against contact with objects which would be liable to mutilate the hook and against the action of the weather. Other hitching means are connected with the post head which comprise arms 13 connecting the intermediate portion of the head with the rim of the inverted cup shaped top portion of the head to form therewith attaching loops to which may be tied suitable hitching straps.

Taking up now the means for normally holding the snap hook 12 within the chamber 11, a boss 1a is formed in the body post receiving socket of the head, and an arcuate passage 15 is provided in the boss and the adjacent portion of the head, this passage communicating at one end with the lower portion of the chamber 11, and at its other end with the end of the boss 14:, this said other end of the opening being disposed centrally of the body boss 6. A chain 16 or other flexible member is secured to the end of the snap hook and to a weight 17 vertically movable in the post, and the end of the snap hook has secured thereto, a plate 18 which serves to eflfectually close the passage 15 when the hook is in retracted position, against possible admission of foreign matter. Thus a means is provided whereby the snap hook is, when not in use, held at all times within the chamber 11, and whereby a desired tautness of the connecting means of the snap hook is had when the hook is in operation to prevent fouling of the connection with the horses legs. It is obvious that the weight normally holds a snap hook in an upstanding position whereby the hook lies well within the rim of the upper portion of the head.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a hollow post, a head on the post having its upper portion reduced and then enlarged in inverted cup shape to provide an annular chamber, a passage through the head coinmunicating with the intermediate portion of the chamber, an attaching member, retracting means in the post and a flexible member engaged through the passage and connecting the retracting means and the attaching member whereby said attaching member is normally held positioned within. said annular chamber.

2. A device of the class described comprising a hollow post, a head on the post having its upper portion reduced and then enlarged in inverted cup shape to provide an annular chamber, an arm connecting the edge of the cup shaped portion with a lower portion of the head, a passage through the head communicating with the chamber, an attaching member, a retracting means in the post and a flexible member engaged through the passage and connecting the retracting means and the attaching member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER F. DALLINGER.

Witnesses:

G120 W. YOUNG, ED. AGKERMANN.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

